EuroLeague Women Final 6: Basket Landes Faces Zaragoza Challenge

The EuroLeague Women's Final 6 is set to ignite, with two Turkish powerhouses, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, already securing their spots in the semifinals. They await the victors of the upcoming quarter-final clashes. One of these pivotal matchups will see Basket Landes go head-to-head with Casademont Zaragoza, while the other pits Spar Girona against Umana Reyer Venezia.

This prestigious tournament kicks off on Wednesday, showcasing a diverse array of talent from 22 nations. The event is expected to draw over 3,500 international fans, including a significant contingent of approximately 1,500 from the Landes region, and more than a hundred journalists representing twelve different countries. This influx of attendees is more than double that of the previous year, highlighting the growing appeal of the competition.

The host city of Zaragoza is buzzing with anticipation. With a record-breaking 9,215 spectators in attendance for the EuroLeague playoff against Prague, all 10,000 available tickets for the Final 6 have already been sold out. Impressively, around 35% of these tickets have been purchased by individuals from outside Zaragoza, demonstrating the event's regional draw, as reported by El Periodico de Aragon.

All participating delegations are being accommodated in a five-star hotel in the city center. Each team is allocated an average of 30 to 40 rooms, a mix of single and double occupancy, with the duration of their stay dependent on their progression in the tournament.

The support for Basket Landes is immense. The team's home venue, the Mitterrand arena, has been at full capacity for 42 consecutive games. Now, their dedicated fans are making the journey to Zaragoza, a drive of just under 4.5 hours, and are also preparing to travel to Paris the following week for the French Cup final against Villeneuve d'Ascq.

Johana Ewodo, a player for Basket Landes, expressed her gratitude for the unwavering support: "Honestly, I find the fans incredible because they follow us everywhere, to all corners of France and even a bit in Europe too. It's crazy, and we are so grateful to have such a crowd that also invests in us. We see the prices for Bercy, we see the cost it can be for Zaragoza, it's truly an investment. We are very happy that our supporters are following us, and we are determined not to disappoint them."

Beyond Basket Landes, six other French players are participating in the Final 6, adding further national pride to the international competition:

Fenerbahçe: Iliana Rupert, Gabby Williams
Galatasaray: Marine Johannès
Zaragoza: Ornella Bankole, Aminata Gueye, Carla Leite.

The image captures Carla Leite of Zaragoza skillfully navigating a screen set by Aminata Gueye, showcasing the dynamic play expected from these elite athletes. ©FIBA

English Translation and Paraphrasing

Two Turkish teams, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, have already secured their spots in the final four of the competition after winning their respective semi-final matches. They will be joined by the two winning teams from the quarter-finals, which will pit Casademont Zaragoza against Basket Landes, and Spar Girona against Umana Reyer Venezia.

The tournament commences this Wednesday, featuring players from 22 nations. Over 3,500 international fans are expected, including approximately 1,500 from the Landes region, along with over a hundred journalists from twelve nations, which is more than double the number from last year.

The reported attendance of 9,215 for the EuroLeague playoff match against Prague serves as a benchmark. All available tickets, over 10,000, for this major event have already been sold out. Of these, roughly 35% are from individuals outside of Zaragoza, according to El Periodico de Aragon.

All delegations are lodged in a five-star hotel in the city center, with each team occupying an average of 30 to 40 rooms (single and double). The length of their stay will depend on how far each team progresses in the competition.

Each team is provided accommodation for 25 people, which is significantly more than the number of players and the coaching and medical staff of Basket Landes. Consequently, the club has decided to invite administrative staff to join the trip as a token of appreciation for their behind-the-scenes dedication, as reported by Sud Ouest.

Enthusiasm for Julie Barennes' team is at its peak in the Landes region. Every seat at the Mitterrand arena has been occupied for 42 matches. Supporters are now making the journey to Zaragoza, a drive of just under 4.5 hours, and are also preparing to travel to Paris the following week for the French Cup final against Villeneuve d'Ascq.

Johana Ewodo shared her thoughts on the fans: "Frankly, I think the supporters are incredible because they follow us everywhere, to all corners of France and even a bit in Europe too. It's crazy, and we are incredibly grateful to have such a public that also invests in us. We see the prices for Bercy, we see the cost it can be for Zaragoza, it's a real investment. We are super happy that our supporters follow us, and we are committed to not disappointing them."

In addition to Basket Landes, six other French players are part of the Final 6 lineup.

Fenerbahçe: Iliana Rupert, Gabby Williams
Galatasaray: Marine Johannès
Zaragoza: Ornella Bankole, Aminata Gueye, Carla Leite.